Around the region

Wednesday

Nov 22, 2017 at 3:31 PM

Friday, Nov. 24

“Venus in Fur”: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24-25 and 3 p.m. Nov. 25, Center for the Arts at the Armory, Cafe, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Cost: $15. For information: https://www.facebook.com/events/360618884368558. Mischievous & Troublesome Productions presents “Venus in Fur” by David Ives. In “Venus in Fur,” Thomas Novachek (Tim Hoover/Casey Preston), a beleaguered playwright/director, is desperate to find an actress to play Vanda, the female lead in his adaptation of the classic sadomasochistic tale, ‘Venus in Fur.’ Into his empty audition room walks a vulgar and equally desperate actress — oddly enough, named Vanda (Kimberly Waller). Though utterly wrong for the sophisticated part, Vanda exhibits a strange command of the material, piquing Thomas’ interest with her seductive talents and secretive manner. As the two work through the script, they blur the line between play and reality, entering into an increasingly serious game of submission and domination that only one of them can win.

Saturday, Nov. 25

“Save the Paper Towels” at Somerville Theatre MicroCinema: 7-8:30 p.m., Flatbread Somerville, 45 Day St. Cost: $8-$10. For information: 978-405-2524; claude@vonroesgen.com; https://savethepapertowels.brownpapertickets.com. The Somerville Theater MicroCinema will host the world premiere of the rockumentary video, “Save the Paper Towels,” a retrospective of producer/director Claude von Roesgen and satirist/actor/musician Dan Margarita music videos. The video portrays a germaphobe custodian who writes a song in support of his most ardent cause, and then convinces a retired band to regroup to perform it. The evening will also include a retrospective of several music videos the two have produced together, and a live performance by Margarita. Admission includes pizza. The theater cash bar will also be available. Seating is limited to 27. Remaining tickets will be available at the door, downstairs in the Somerville Theatre MicroCinema, on a first-come, first-served basis at 7 p.m. on the night of the event.

Sunday, Nov. 26

Somerville Local First Holiday Marketplace: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Center for the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Free. For information: http://www.somervillelocalfirst.org. Somerville Local First will present its annual Holiday Marketplace in the historic main hall of the Armory. This makers market returns this year with a list of 40-plus vendors of jewelry, pet accessories, housewares, textiles, fragrances, leather goods, gifts and specialty food items available.

Trolley Ride with Frosty to ZooLights: 5 p.m., Town Common, 35 Central St., Stoneham. Cost: $6, adults; $3, children. The community is invited to ride the Trolley with Frosty the Snowman and win a prize. Pizza, cookies and drinks will be available. All proceeds will provide enrichment programs for Stoneham’s youth. The Trolley will leave the Town Common immediately following the tree lighting ceremony. This program is sponsored by the Stoneham Business and Community Education Foundation and StonehamBank.

Merrimack Valley A Capella Chorus: 7 p.m., Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Ave. Free. For information: http://merrimackvalleychorus.com. The Merrimack Valley A Capella Chorus will perform carols, hymns, romantic songs and party classics. The Merrimack Valley A Capella is an award-winning women’s chorus that performs four-part harmony without accompaniment throughout the Greater Boston area and southern New Hampshire. This chorus won the Adult Large Group title of WGBH’s “Sing That Thing,” season one. This event is free and open to the public, courtesy of a sponsorship of the Friends of the Reading Public Library.

Monday, Nov. 27

Granoff Music Center Colloquium Series: “The Social Power of Music and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings”: noon to 1:30 p.m., Distler Performance Hall at the Granoff Music Center, 20 Talbot Ave., Medford. Free. For information: http://as.tufts.edu. Atesh Sonneborn of Smithsonian Folkway Recordings will present the final colloquium of the semester in the Varis Lecture Hall. Lunch will be served after the lecture. Guest parking passes can be purchased at the Tufts University Police Department, 419 Boston Ave., Medford. This colloquium is made possible by the Granoff Music Fund.

Tuesday, Nov. 28

Mystic Makerspace Sewing Basic Workshop: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Medford Public Library, 111 High St. For information: http://www.medfordlibrary.org. In this workshop, participants will lean about seams and basic sewing skills with Emily of Mystic Makerspace. Registration is required to attend this event. To register, send an email to medford@minlib.net or call 781-395-7950. Ages 16 and older are welcome.

Wednesday, Nov. 29

OutLoud Open Mike: All Open Mike: 7:30-9:30 p.m., Beebe Estate, 235 W. Foster St., Melrose. Free. Donations will be accepted. For information: https://www.beebeestate.com. The OutLoud Open Mike Coffee House will kick off the holiday season with All Open Mike. The event will be held one week beyond the usual time (the fifth Wednesday of the month, rather than fourth), in consideration of the Thanksgiving holiday. Patrons are invited to come and share their talents and creative energy, or come to listen and share in this event. Sign-up is at 7:15 p.m.

“Climate Change”: 8-10 p.m., Distler Performance Hall at the Granoff Music Center, 20 Talbot Ave., Medford. Free. For information: http://as.tufts.edu. The Tufts New Music Ensemble will present environmental music, chance operations and new compositions under the direction of Donald Berman.

Friday, Dec. 1

“Santa Claus Conquers The Martians”: 8-9 p.m. Dec. 1-2 and 2-3 p.m. Dec. 2, Unity Somerville, Upstairs Sanctuary, 6 William St., Somerville. Cost: $12-$15. For information: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3177116. This December, The Post-Meridian Radio Players will present an original adaptation of the 1964 Christmas cult classic film, “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.” Concerned that their children are bored and listless and don’t want to do anything but watch Earth television programs, the Martians kidnap Santa Claus — and a couple of unlucky Earth children — from the earth and bring him to Mars to make toys so their children can be kids again.

Ongoing

Tend the Children’s Garden with Youth and Nature: 3:30-4:40 p.m. every Tuesday, Saugus Public Library, 295 Central St. Join to plant, care for and taste items from the garden. Participants will grow flowers, herbs, vegetables, a pizza garden and a fairy garden. Each week features a project with tastings, crafts and story time. For information: http://sauguspubliclibrary.org.

Reading Ramblers Walking Club: The Reading Ramblers Walk Club meets at 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. Fridays all over town. For meeting spots, check out the Pleasantries newsletter or contact the Pleasant Street Center at 781-942-6794.

Yoga for Everyone: Medford resident Judy Scribner-Moore continues to offer yoga classes suitable for all levels of experience at three locations in West Medford. Monday evening classes meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the West Medford Community Center, 111 Arlington St. Tuesday and Wednesday evening and Saturday morning classes meet at Judy’s home studio. A Chair Yoga class meets on Wednesday mornings from 10 to 11:15 a.m. at Sanctuary, 458 High St. For information and registration: 781-488-7664; http://www.yogawithjudyscribner.com. Advance registration for all classes is required.

Belly dancing classes: Professional Middle Eastern Belly Dance instructor, coach and performer Dorothea O’Regan teaches a beginner basics and intro-intermediate belly dance class on Mondays at 6 p.m. and an intermediate/advanced belly dance class at 7 p.m. Classes take place at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Wakefield, 326 Main St. For information: http://dorotheaoregan.com.

“Not Your Father’s Improv”: This improvisation group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays at Unity Somerville, 6 William St. A donation of $5 to the Unity Church per session is required.

Great Books: Great Books meets from 7 to 8 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of every month, September to June, at the Melrose Public Library, 69 W. Emerson St., to discuss short stories from anthologies. New members are always welcome. For information: 781-665-2313; http://www.melrosepubliclibrary.org.